Multiple spindle boring machine



Filed Nov. 8, 1934 e sheets-sheet 1 Inventor:

F. WALTHER MULTIPLE SPINDLE BORING MACHINE l May 18,1937.

Filed Nov. 8, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor.'

May 18, 1937. F, WALTHER 2,080,643

MULTIPLE SPINDLE BORING MACHINE May 18, 1937. F. WALTHER i 2,080,643

MULTIPLE SPINDLE BORING MACHINE May 18, 1937. F. vWALTHER MULTIPLE SPI NDLE BORING MACHINE Filed Nov 8, 1954 a a 3 r. V W e .m W y 9 n NM M m d Z F @wmf W y@ z um l l May 18, 1937. v F. wALTHl-:R 2,080,643

MULTIPLE SPINDLE BORING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1934 e sheets-sheet 6 Fig. a.

Il? H4 ISO Panarea May 18, 1937 'Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE signor to Vomag-Betrlebs-A. G.,

Vogtland, Germany Plauen in Application November s, 1934, 'serial No. '152,131 In Germany February 2, 1934 Claims.

The present invention relates toboring and drilling machines.

Boring mechanisms with vertical spindle are usually made so that the work to be bored or 5 drilled is mounted on a iixed or adjustable table and the rotating boring spindle which carries the drill or boring tool is moved towards .the work.

In view of the fact that the spindle rotates, and as the accuracy of the boring or drilling depends on the rotation of the spindle about a constant axis, this arrangemenig'in the case of precision boring mechanisms in which only very boring tolerances are allowed, leads to diiliculties because no accurate guiding of the comparatively small spindle is possible, the more s0 as the axial guiding of a revolving part is ren` degree of precision is to dered diiiicult if a high be attained.y

According to the present invention this drawback is eliminated by making the spindle bearing and the spindle itself stationary in an axial direction and iirmly mounting them on the frame of the machine, the table with the work being Vmoved axially in relation to the spindle. This 2'5 has the advantage that the relatively large table can be mounted in accurate guides on the frame, and consequently an accurate motion of the work in the direction of the axis ofthe spindle is ensured'.

If it is desired 'to design such `boring machines with several spindles for boring simultaneously a numbei of bores in the same work; for example for the precision boring of cylinder blocks having.

several cylinders, a diillculty arises in ilxing the spindle bearings to the frame of the machine. On the one hand rigid xing is required if the necessary degree of accuracy is to be achieved; on the other hand such rigid iixlng of the'individual spindle bearingstothe machineirame in arrangement such as hitherto employed calls for the use oi.' somewhat large brackets or bear- 50 and at the same time permits of adjusting the distance between the spindle axes. For this purpose, according to the invention the spindle 'carrying bodies are so constructed that they may be placed side by side to form one compactunit, said bodies being individually undisplaceable in 'the axial direction, but the said unit being arranged adjustably as a` whole, on the frame of the machine.

The drawings show a form of the invention by way of example, viz:

Fig. 1 isa front view of a three-spindle machine.

Fig'. ,1d is a side view device.V

Fig. 2 is a side view of same.

Fig. 3 is a' vertical section through Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section through Fig. 3 along line 4 4.

Fig. 5 is a sectionthrough Fig. 3 along the line 55.

Fig. 6 is a detailed illustration oi apart of Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 7 shows 'the lower portion of the. frame with the arrangement of the motor, on an enlarged scale partly in section.

Fig. 8 is a part sectional view through Fig. '1.-

Fig. 9 is a front view of the upper portion of a machine forming a modication.

Fig. l0'is a` plan of same.

oi a table feed control Fig. 1l shows an individualspin'dle oi the ar 25 rangement in accor nce with Figs. 9 and 10, seen with the boring-tool holder iltted thereto.

Fig. 12 is a View from below of the vcutting tool holder on an enlarged scale, and

. Fig. 13 an enlarged illustration of the lowerl portion of Fig. 1l.

vIn the drawings, I is the frame of the machine. In'side'the frame is an electric motor 2 (Figs. 3, 5, and '1) which drives the boring spindle 5 through a belt pulley 3 and a belt l. For this purpose the spindles carry belt pulleys 6, and belt 4 is guided between these pulleys 6 via guiding rollers 6', (Fig. 2) so that a single belt can vbe used'fordriving all spindles. The individual boring spindles are mounted in bearings 8, and the bearings are' arranged on a common base plate 9, which is connected rigidly to the frame or made in one piece with it. LConseq'uently,'no axial displacement of the boring spindles can take place, :whilst the spindles can be adjusted. horizontally on the base plate. For this purpose threaded spindles I9 (Figs. 1 and 2) are arranged in the base plate, which spindles are so securedl in lateral bearing Iplates Il placed on the base plate that they are rotated inside them, but not displaceable axially in relation to them. The threaded spindles' engage in the nuts provided on the bearings 8, and each bearing is provided with a nut, that is to say, there is a spindle Il for each nut or each bearing. Accordingly, by rotating these spindles, the bearings 8. with the boring spindles can be displaced individually in a horizontal direction along the plate 8. 'I'he work to be dealt with rests on the tabl I2, which is guided vertically on the machine frame I. The table is of |.shaped outline as seen in plan in Fig. 5 that is to say, it carries a part or arm I3 projecting rearward which at the same time, as shown in-Fig. 2 forms an arm pointing upwards. This arm I3 carries two hookor' claw-like bearings I5 and |8 (Fig. 6) which slidingly engage on opposite sides of a guide rod I1 mounted rigidly in the machine frame, the bearing I5 being disposed at the lower part of the Iarm I3 and at the front of the rod I1, and the bearing I8 at the upper part of said arm and at the rear of the said rod, so that the weight of the table |2 provides a torque which presses both bearings against the guide rod I1. On the other side of the table I2 is ,provided a frame |8, which frame carries'a shoulder I9 projecting inwards (Fig. 4), the said frame and shoulder forming a hook-shaped part. The shoulder rests against a guide bar 20 arranged on the machine frame. A spring' |9a or the like can be provided which holds parts I9 and 2|) in engagement with each other. When in upward and downward motion, the table thus slides along the guide rod I1 and the guide bar 20.

The up anddown motion of the table is, in the example illustrated, carried out hydraulically. For this purpose a hydraulic cylinder 2| (Fig. 3) is provided in which runs a piston 22. The piston is linked to a shoulder 25 of the table through the piston rod 23 by means of an articulated pin 24. The lower end 26 of the cylinder is provided with a spherical cap which rests on a spherical supporting surface 21 of the frame, so that the cylinder 2| can adjust itself freely, without exerting any reaction upon the table.

Naturally the hydraulic control shown, for

the up and down motion of the table, is only one l form of the invention. Mechanical or electrical means, for example a rack or friction drive can also be used for this purpose. The illustrated guiding of the table on the frame by means of the guide parts I6 and I1 has the special advantage that owing to these parts -being arranged wide apart from one another the supporting pressure against the guide rodis comparatively small and no great wear takes place. The guide surface 20 receives practically no pressure, its chief purpose is to prevent the table from rotating round the guide rod I1 and so maintain it in its correct relationship with respect to the frame of the machine.

The guide rod I1, in the example shown, is of round cross-section, but may, if desired, be of any other cross-section.

The fluid for working the piston 22 is produced by a pump 28, which is disposed inside the machine frame and is driven by a motor 28. The feed and discharge of the fluid to and from the cylinder 2| is respectively effected through the tubes 38 and 3|, or vice versa according to the position of a reversing and control valve not shown in the drawings.

The control is actuated by means of a substantially U-shaped body or handle 32 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5) which is carried on a shaft'33 pivoted in the machine frame. By rotating the shaft 33 by means of the handle 32 the control valve may be operated to connect or disconnect the pressure oil feed with the pipes 3l and 3|, the arrangement being such that by turning the handle 32 downwards, the piston 22 and consequently the table is raised and by turning said handle upwards the table is lowered. When the handle 32 is in the horizontal position, the table is in the position of rest. I

By moving the handle 32 longitudinally, the shaft 33 can also be axially displaced in its bearing 34 on the machine frame, the said shaft carrying a stop 35 or the like (Fig. 5) which can be brought into engagement with a switch 36. The switch is in the form of a push-button switch, and by pressure applied to one or other of the two lateral parts, according to the direction of movement of the handle 32, the driving motor 2 of the device is either switched on or switched off.

As previously stated, the control of the pressure medium by means of the-handle 32 is effected via a control device (not shown in the drawings), which valve can be set in iive different positions. If the handle is moved slightly downward from its central position the current of fluid flows into the part of the cylinder 2| below the piston 22 and raises the table, the fluid in the upper part of the cylinder passing into a. suitable tank or reservoir, not shown.

When the handle is moved down slightly above `its horizontal position, it places the lower end of the cylinder in communication with the reservoir, so that the liquid which is in the cylinder 2| returns to the reservoir mainly under the action of the weight of thetable.

When the handle is in the horizontalposition., the control valve is set so that the pressure medium supplied by the pump is circulated through the pump and reservoir only, while the liquid still remaining in the pipes 38, 3| and in the cylinder is shut off from both the pump and reservoir, the arrangement being such that the mo'vement of the table may be' stopped lwhen the latter is at any level.

In order to move the table more rapidly towards the cutting tools and to bridgevover more rapidly intervals between the Working strokes of the machine, the table may be lowered at high 'a number of collars 48, that is to sayr three inthe example shown, which can be adjusted on the rod as to height and can be fixed in the adjusted position by means of a locking screw or the like, which collars have, at their periphery, an oblique, that is to say, screw-shaped groove 4|, in which the said shoulder 38 can engage. During the up and down motion of the table the shoulder 38 engages in these grooves 4| and as a` result rotates the rod 31. Through this rotation, owing to the connection of the rod with the handle 32, the latter is correspondingly moved; The collars and grooves 4| are so arranged that by properly adjusting the collars on the rod 31 the change-over to high speed or ordi- A-nary speed or -to rest is initiated at the respecalso possible at any time while the shoulder 39 is between two collars, to effect the change-over by the manual operation of the7 handle 32.l

The spindles 5 (Fig. 3) are mounted in ball bearings to which the oil is fed through a pipe system 42 from an oil distributing device 43. This device receives the oil from the pump through a pressure pipe 44.

The frame is mounted loose on a base plate 45, with the interposition of an insulating layer, for example, a sheet of cork 45, which serves to prevent the transmission of the motor vibrations to the machine frame. The motor 2 is mounted on a frame 41, which is placed on the base plate 45. The frame 41 is designed as a hollow body containing a space 48 which is divided off from the lower portion 55 of the inside of the said frame by a base plate 49 and is closed at the top by a plate 50. which latter at the same time forms the supporting surface for the motor 2.

A vertical partition 5| (Fig. 7) is also provided within the frame 41. The front and side walls of the frame 41 are provided with windows such as 52, which give'access to the interior of the space 48. In the space 48 and upon the partition 49 is accommodated the pump 28 together with the appertaining electric motor 29. Behind the wall 5| and-under thewall 49,.spaces 54 and 55 are provided, which are in communication with each other through an opening 56. These spaces' serve as oil containers; `from which the pump 28 is fed. The individual plates of the frame 41 can appropriately be connected by means of welding.

In Figs. 9 to 13 is shown a maachine with six boring spindles, which is intended for example for the precision boring of blocks of six cylinders.

The individual spindles |0`| are carried in bearings housed in bodies in the form of blocks |02, which are rectangular in plan. Each of these blocks is guided on the machine frame by means of a bar |02a which can be individually adjusted transversely of the machine. The distance between the individual blocks is determined by the thickness of interchangeable distance pieces |03, the arrangement being such that the distances between the various boring spindles may be adjusted for any requirement. The blocks |02 by being arranged in juxtaposition form a spindle unit, which is disposed between members |04 between which are secured adjustable tie-bars |05, as shown` in Fig. 10. Y

At the front of the spindle unit, transverse' members |08 are provided, which extend across the whole unit and are connected to the members |04 by means of screws |01, (Figs. 9 and 10). Through the members |00 are passed screws |08 by which the individual blocks |02 this purpose, the screws ||0 are made to engage,

in slots- ||4 (shown more clearly in-Fig. 11) in the body |09. A screw-threaded spindle vcarried by a bracket ||2 serves for displacing the whole unit. The drive of the individual spindles is eieted in the example shown, vby means of pulleys H3 arranged in staggered formation in regard to height, two drivingbelts being employed, each of which serves for three spindles and both of which belts fcan be driven` from common drive pulley, 1

The spindle noses ||5 projecting -below from the spindle bearings are provided with a thread on to which is screwed the boring rod. The individual boring rods are made of two sections; they consist of the shaft ||1 and a cutting tool holder ||8 pivoted on the latter. The cutting tool is marked H9. As will be seen from Fig. 12, the cutting tool holder is pivoted on a pin |20; a spring |2| tends to rotate the cutting tool holder in a clockwise direction. v

Between the cutting tool holder and a shoulder |22 provided on the shaft ||1 there is a wedge |23 which can be moved up and down in a vertical direction by means of a pressure rod |24. Owing to this up 'and down motion of the wedgelike pressure member |23, the cutting tool holder is swung out against the action of spring |2| in such a way that the tool |9 is moved out of contact with the bore.

At its upper end the pressure rod |24 carries a head |25 which is provided with an annular a knob |30 is provided, the latter forming a handle.

The pivoting of the lever |29 by meansof the I knob or handle |30 causes the shaft |21 to be turned and in consequence all the pressure rods |24 are simultaneously raised and lowered.

The device last described serves, upon completion of the boring operation, to move all the boring tools simultaneously out of contact with the work in order to enable the spindles to beremoved from the bores without damage to the latter, when lowering the table which carries the Work. v Instead of the individual' blocks |02 being square they can be cylindrical, or even octagonal or the like in plan, the distance pieces |03 being so shaped that they fit well on to adjacent blocks.

If desired, an individual drive in the form of an electric motor or other driving unit may be provided for each spindle. Finally a devicel can also be provided to adjust the whole spindle' unit not` only horizontally, but vertically, that is to say, spindles according to this invention can also be used for machines in which the feed of the boring tool is effected by an axial movement of the boring spindles themselves, all the spindles in such case moving towards the work simultaneously. Finally, the device can also be=used for horizontal boring work.

Each of the pressure rods- |24 is appropriately designed in two parts, and the two parts are screwed together, at |3|, (Fig. 11), that is at# the point where the spindle also is screwed on the threadA ||5 ci the spindle nose, so as to facilitate the exchange of the spindle and, if necessary,'to

permit of also using spindles which do not possess the withdrawal device.

It isgood plan to 'operatively associate the control ofthe machine through the handle 32, with the lever |29 for the purpose of lifting off the cutting edges. Since, during the vupward motion of the table, that is to say, during the working operation, the cutting edges must be in the Vworking position, whilepon the contrary during the` downward motion 6 f the table they must be in the withdrawn position. The handle `32 may,.therefore, b'e connected with thehand le# ver |29 in such 'a way that simultaneously with the upward and downward swing it will also respectively bring the cutting edges into their cutting position and retract them from this position, and to this end, for example a lateral roller or a projection |33, can be provided on the lever |29 '(see Figs. 10 and 1l) which roller or projection is 'operated by a cam |34 attached to the handle 32.

The arrangement is such that swinging the handle 32 upward, the lever |29 is moved by the cam |34 in such a way that the cutting edges become retracted, while on the contrary when the handle 32 is moved back into the middle position, the lever |29 is so moved that the cutting edges are re-engaged. The lever |29 'remains in this position during the further downward motion of the handle 3 2 and during the upward movement of the table initiated thereby.

Obviously the machine may be provided with any other number of spindles than in the examplesfabove described, or even with only one' spindle.

Further, it is also possible, inl very large machineswto arrange spindles in sets, that'is to say, to assemble, say sets of three or four spindies into one unit and to provide several such units on the same machine.

It is further possible to design on different constructional lines the means for clamping together the blocks |02 or for setting the latter in their correct position, that is to say, instead of employing a screw-threaded spindle such as suitable rack land pinion mechanism may be provided for this purpos 1. A boring machine comprising, a frame, a boring spindle mounted thereon stationary in the axial direction of the spindle, a work table movable parallel to the axis of the spindle, a single guide rod extending parallel to the axis of the spindle at the one side of the table, an arm ex- 1 tending from the table parallel to said rod at the same side of the table, a pair of bearing surfaces longitudinally spaced from each other on said arm, one of which bears against the front of said rod and the other of which bears against the back of said rod, guiding surfaces at the other side of the table and of the `frame respectively engaging each other, and means adapted to re- 0'siliently press said last-mentioned guiding surary in the vertical direction, al vertically vmov- Y able work table, a single vertical guide rod'at the one side 6I the table, an arm extending upwardly from the table at the same side, and a pair of bearing surfaces Avertically spaced from each l faces'at'the other side of the table and of the frame respectively engaging each other, and means adapted to resiliently press said last-mentioned guiding surfaces against each other.

3. A machine according to claim 2 in which the guide rod is iixed' in the machine frame near the back of the work table.

4. A boring or 'drilling machine comprising, a frame, a boring spindle mounted thereon stationary in the axial direction of the spindle, a work table movable parallel to the axis of the spindle, means for guiding the work table at one side thereof, means for holding the work table resiliently against said guide means, a single guide rod extending parallel to said guide means at the other side, and a pair of boring surfaces longitudinally spaced from each other on said arm, one of which bears against the front of said rod and the other of which'bears against the back of said rod, said guide rod being of circumr cross section and the guide means including a '-flat surface on the frame and a hook-shaped part on the table engaging said surface.

5. A boring or drilling machine comprising a frame, a boring spindle mounted thereon stationary in the axial direction of the spindle. a

.work table movable parallel to the axis ofthe the spindle, a singleguide rod extending parallel to said axis. an arm extending from the table parallel to the guide rod, a pair of bearing surfaces longitudinally spaced from each other on said arm, one of which bears against the front of said rod and the other of which bears against the back of said rod, and power means for moving the work table comprising a cylinderv arranged with its axis parallel to the direction of table movement said cylinder having a spherical .surface engaging a corresponding spherical bearing surface on the frame to compensate for nonparallelism of said cylinder axis andthe direction of table movement, said cylinder having a piston operatively connected to the work table at a point located inwardly oi the inner edge of the table.

FRI'IZ WALTHER. 

